Lock for sliding fifth-wheel trunnions



Sept. 5, 1967 R- A. BRAUNBERGER LOCK FOR SLIDING FIFTHWHEEL TRUNNIONSFiled May 7, 1965 IN VEN TOR. RA Y A. BRAUNBERGER 4344M cm AttorneyUnited States Patent 3,339,941 LOCK FOR SLIDING FIFTH-WHEEL TRUNNIONSRay A. Braunberger, 221 N. La Salle St., Chicago, 111. 60601 Filed May7, 1965, Ser. No. 454,060 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-407) This invention relatesto a lock for sliding fifth-wheel trunnions.

Such locks, as illustrated in Patent 3,030,125 granted to applicant, canbe actuated by a single cylinder movable relative to its support, thepiston actuating one plunger and the cylinder moving the other plunger.

The present invention provides a crade that supports the cylinder,guides the cylinder in the proper path to prevent incidental strains,absorbs the impact of coming to a stop that must otherwise be assumed bythe cylinder, and provides a shield that deflects dirt that mightshorten the life of piston and cylinder.

One object of the invention is to provide a cradle that holds thecylinder at the proper elevation and assures that cylinder, piston, andplungers will move along the same axis without slide strain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a groove in which thecradle moves with stops in the groove that enable the cradle to absorbinertia impacts that at present strain cylinder and piston functioning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield, moving with thecylinder and piston, that deflects foreign matter injurious to cylinderand piston movement.

FIGURE 1 shows in elevation a device such as shown in Patent 3,030,125to actuate two plungers which has been improved by mounting the cylinderon a cradle that slides in a groove and provides stops limiting themovement of the cylinder and cradle.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the cradle and cylinder and dirtdeflector taken along lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

In the form of the invention illustrated, 1 is a platform adapted toslide along parallel tracks 2. Each of the tracks has a series of spacedholes 3 in the vertical section. The platform is locked into position byprojecting plungers 4 and 5 into a pair of holes 3. A single cylinder 6is mounted on a cradle 7 that slides in a groove or track 8 on platform1 and actuates plungers 4 and 5.

The cradle, as shown in FIGURE 2, may consist of a plate 9 that slidesin groove 8 and has vertical sections 10 that bear against therectangular cylinder heads 11. The cylinder heads may be drawn togetheragainst cylinder 6 by bolts 12.

The cylinder heads support a canopy 13 that extends over the cylinderand the piston rod 14. Piston rod 14 is moved by a piston 15 in cylinder6. The cylinder has two fluid inlets. When fluid is admitted to inlet 17the piston rod is projected out of the cylinder and when fluid isadmitted to inlet 18 the piston rod is drawn back into the cylinder.

Connected to one end of the cylinder by a pin 19 is plunger 5 whichslides in a hole in the vertical extension 20 of the platform 1. Piston15 in the cylinder is connected to piston rod 14 that is in turnconnected to plunger 4 by a pin 21. This plunger 4 is supported by avertical extension 22 of platform 1.

When the fluid is fed into inlet 17 the piston 15 moves the piston rod14 outward and plug 4 enters a hole 3 in the rail. A shoulder 24 on theplunger 4 then engages extension 22 preventing further movement of thepiston rod. The cylinder now moves relactive to the stationary pistonrod carrying the cradle 7 with it and plunger 5',

3,339,941 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 connected to the cylinder, is enteredinto one of the holes 3. To absorb the inertia of the moving cylinderand bring it to a stop the end 25 of the cradle engages stop 26 at theend of groove 8.

When the platform is to be released, fluid is fed into inlet 18 and thepiston draws the piston rod back into the cylinder drawing plunger 4 outof hole 3. When shoulder 24 engages stop 27 on platform 1, the pistonrod comes to rest and the cylinder 6 moves to the left in FIGURE 1carrying the cradle with it. This withdraws plunger 5 from hole 3 andreleases the platform from locked condition. To absorb the impact of themoving cylinder and cradle, edge 28 of the cradle engages the end of thegroove.

In the operation of the device, the platform is moved to the desiredposition on the tracks 2, fluid then admitted to the inlet 17 of thecylinder. Both the cylinder and the piston then move to insert plungers4 and 5 in holes in the tracks. The cradle, moving in its grooves, givesassurance that no jolt can throw the two plungers, the piston rod, andthe cylinder out of alignment.

When the locking pins are to be removed, fluid is fed into inlet 18 ofthe cylinder and both piston and cradle and piston rod move to withdrawplungers 4 and 5.

Referring to FIGURE 1, when the plunger 4 was withdrawn from the hole 3,the shoulder 24 engaged extension 27 of the cradle and the piston rodcame to a complete stop. As fluid, usually air, continues to flow intothe cylinder, the cylinder moves to the left in FIGURE 1. However, theplunger attached to the cylinder may stick in the hole 3 until thepressure in the cylinder builds up. The plunger is then released fromhole 3 suddenly and the pressure in the cylinder causes it and thecradle to accelerate rapidly. The cradle then strikes the end 28 of thegroove with a violent bang. This impact is transmitted by the verticalsection of the cradle to the right hand cylinder end 11 at the level ofthe cylinder axis. The tie rods joining the two cylinder heads preventthe left cylinder head placing a strain on the cylinder. Thus the cradleprevents injury or wear on the cylinder, the pistons, or the air seals.

I claim:

1. In fluid operated means for locking in position a trunnion supportwhich slides along tracks on a fifth wheel, two plungers extending thruopposite holes in said trunnion support that are adapted to be movedinto holes in the fifth wheel, a fluid operated cylinder connected toone of said plungers, a piston in said cylinder whose piston rod isconnected to the other of said plungers, a cross track on said trunnionsupport located below the cylinder, a cradle supporting said cylindermovable along said cross track, stops limiting the movement of saidcradle along said cross track, vertical projections extending upwardfrom said cradle which engage both ends of said cylinder at the level ofthe piston which transmit the impact when the cradle engages the stop tothe cylinder without strain on the piston.

2. In a combination described in claim 1, a deflector carried by thecradle which extends over the cylinder and the piston to deflect foreignmatter from the piston and cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,835,504 5/1958 Acker 280-812,938,706 5/1960 Langen 92-117 X 2,940,774 6/ 1960 Buvelot 280-4053,030,125 4/ 1962 Braunberger 280-407 3,099,205 7/ 1963 Lovrinch 292-114X LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner.

1. IN FLUID OPERATED MEANS FOR LOCKING IN POSITION A TRUNNION SUPPORTWHICH SLIDES ALONG TRACKS ON A FIFTH WHEEL, TWO PLUNGERS EXTENDING THRUOPPOSITE HOLES IN SAID TRUNNION SUPPORT THAT ARE ADAPTED TO BE MOVEDINTO HOLES IN THE FIFTH WHEEL, A FLUID OPERATED CYLINDER CONNECTED TOONE OF SAID PLUNGERS, A PISTON IN SAID CYLINDER WHOSE PISTON ROD ISCONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID PLUNGERS, A CROSS TRACK ON SAID TRUNNIONSUPPORT LOCATED BELOW THE CYLINDER, A CRADLE SUPPORTING SAID CYLINDERMOVABLE ALONG SAID CROSS TRACK, STOPS LIMITING THE MOVEMENT OF SAIDCRADLE ALONG SAID CROSS TRACK VERTICAL PROJECTIONS EXTENDING UPWARD FROMSAID CRADLE WHICH ENGAGE BOTH ENDS OF SAID CYLINDER AT THE LEVEL OF THEPISTON WHICH TRANSMIT THE IMPACT WHEN THE CRADLE ENGAGES THE STOP TO THECYLINDER WITHOUT STRAIN ON THE PISTON.